Would a very low asking price making you think "hmm, what's wrong with it?"?

[PerkinWarbeck]

We are thinking about relocating to the north-west. DH has an interview next week, and so I have been making a few enquiries with estate agents about flogging our flat. The three that I have contact have been suprisingly non-committal with valuations, saying that it's hard to say in this market.

We will need a quick sale if DH gets the job, so are thinking of pricing our flat at about £20k lower than most similar properties on the market (we have been told that ours is well-presented). Would a noticeably lower asking price have you champing at the bit, or would you be suspicious?

I would think "there is someone who knows what they're about."

Everyone loves a bargain and most places are wildly overpriced.

Right now - I would think that they need to move and have priced to sell. Stuff is moving but slowly.

Where in NW are going - we are supposed to be in Chester in 10 weeks time...

We will hope to move back to Manchester. IMO it's a similarly overpriced market market to London, so I'm hoping that we should be able to drive a fairly hard bargain on whatever we buy (although we might rent for a bit first).

no I would think there is someone who wants to sell now and not still be hoping in a few months time

thanks for your thoughts smile.

and who knows - perhaps it'll seem such a bargain that it provokes a bidding war grin.

Gah - some swine has tampered with my emoticons

i hope not as this is what we are planning to do the agents just seem like they cant be bothered at the moment its all lettings!!

I'd make sure that which ever agent you use will market it properly, ensure that they are going to ring around people on their books and tell them you have priced is realistically for a quick sale as you are relocating etc etc.

Offer them an incentive if they secure a sale and get to exchange within so many weeks?

ELR we had the same impression of agents at the moment. I thought that surely anything will sell at the right price, but they were very sketchy with the figures. I think they worry that you'll take your business elsewhere if they value too low!

We moved to South Manchester in August last year. I took a bit of persuading but love it up here. Have you lived up here before? What areas are you looking in?

Oh and in this market I'd think the vendors wanted a quick sale. Be prepared to still take a little bit off though. Nobody will pay asking price even if you put it on at £500 people would offer you £450.

DH is from Heaton Moor, but that is more than a little out of our price range . We're thinking about Prestwich, as I want to be reasonably near town, given that I don't have any idea where I'll be working. Where are you, myredcardigan?

We're in Wilmslow so more South of Manchester than South Manchester but still just up the A34 into town. Crazy in rush hour though I have to admit!

Prestwich is nice with good schools and if you're looking that side of town, Worsley is also nice. I think the primary school in Worsley is a beacon school. It is far, far easier to get into town from north of the city than it is from the south.

We have friends in Altrincham. Everyone thinks it's too expensive but some parts are very reasonable esp if you don't mind going without a cool coffee bar at the end of the street. The have the grammar system with the 11+ for schools so good place to be. Check out Timperley too. Also if you're in the city centre there are trams from Altrincham and Prestwich as well I think.

We looked in Bramhall and Poynton too. Bramhall was expensive though (I think you're paying for the schools) but Poynton was far more reasonable with a lovely village centre. But again, a PITA commute if you're working in the CC.

We love it up here, DH's company has always had an office here and I wish we'd done it years ago!

Meant to add that Heaton Moor is lovely. It seemed very green when I went.

Hope you have better luck than us - we relocated to Hale 3 mths ago from the SW. (We decided to put location first (for commuting & for schooling purposes). Put our house on the market, undercutting similar sized houses by £20K. 8 viewings in first 2 mths - not bad but no offers. Reduced asking price by another £20K - zilch, market seemed to have died in the last month. We're renting too - would recommend Hale/Bowden/Altrincham. Good Luck! If you're in a position to, get a decent relocation package - remember to factor in the fact that anything above £8K will be taxed. HTH

I do like Altrincham - worked there many moons ago!

Our estate agent valuations are so wildly different from each other it's hard to know what to do for the best.

In some ways we're limited to how low we can go as we have very little equity . DH would get a small relocation package if we do move, which does help. Blardy home ownership...I sometimes wish we'd stayed in rented accommodation all along.

Selby, we liked Hale too but although the houses were beautiful, all the gardens seemed so small. That's the trouble with large Victorian/Edwardian houses I guess. We've opted for a 1930's detached as it gave us so much more garden though we always lust after those beautiful 4/5bed semis in Hale.

Only if the property has been on the market for a long time as well.

When I win the lottery/get a bequest from a rich and as yet unknown relative (delete as applicable) we will be putting our house on the market warts and all at a low price. I've seen places sell round here in days because they are prices 10-15k under the standard price.